How does transitioning from interim to permanent head coach affect the way you'll approach the position?My approach hasn't changed much over the last six months. The interim title was there, but my approach has remained the same — to the best of my ability to work with this team to make a run for a national championship. This team accomplished a lot of our goals. Winning a share of the Ivy Title was a big one, so was making it to the NCAA Tournament. Since the interim title being lifted yesterday, I couldn't be more humbled and honored.

When AD Andy Noel named you interim head coach, he said Cornell would conduct a full national search at season's end. What was the interview process like for you?It was a full interview for me. My last couple of weeks were very busy. I assume it was the same for all of the candidates that interviewed. I wanted to put my vision in front of the committee here, show them I had some ideas and thoughts on where this program can, should and will go.

Do you think the fact that this season was successful, compared to expectations given how much graduated from the 2013 team, influenced the committee?The way I looked at this entire season, my focus was on the 35 guys in that locker room. I didn't look too far ahead, that was my focus during the year. But, in the back of my mind, I knew that was kind of an interview for me, showing the alumni and administrators what we could do. We had such a great start at 9-0, and down the stretch, we had a couple games we would've like backed. It didn't hurt my cause to have a successful season, but it probably would’ve helped to win a few more games.

What’s the reaction from players, parents and alumni been like?The last 24 hours have been pretty busy with a lot of phone calls. I went to Philadelphia for a recruiting event and it was a nice change to talk to some old friends there [about getting the job]. The entire ride down to Philly and back was filled with phone calls with the team and the alumni.

Have any decisions been made regarding the coaching staff?We're looking at every piece of the program now. I'm meeting with the administration very soon. I feel great about this staff; they’re an incredible group to work with. (Editor’s note: Inside Lacrosse reported Thursday that Cornell will retain Peter Milliman as associate head coach.)

Personally, how do you describe the path that’s brought you to Cornell?That’s a challenging question. It's been a great experience for me. It's been tough on my family. I’ve worked with so many great people — the coaches at Hobart, Jacksonville, Georgetown, they’re all such great places. To be at Cornell, one of the great programs with one of the great traditions in college lacrosse, to follow in the footsteps of so many great coaches here. It's a true privilege.

Cornell has one of the strongest identities in college lacrosse. How do you think you’ll mesh with that?There's a culture here and it was so evident when I walked in the door a couple years ago. It’s about the selfless guys on this team and program that is all about the team. I'd like to think through my years, the teams I've coached were gritty, tougher guys, maybe not the most talented groups — that was the identity I like to think our identity Cornell is all about a group of guys that enjoy going to practice, practice hard, fast-paced and spend a lot of time working with [strength and conditioning coach] Tom Howley.

Between the talent that’s returning and the positive recruiting in the 2015 and ’16 classes, how do you characterize the outlook of this program?Next year's senior class is one of those special groups that you only get to work with so often. We feel good about the group coming back. They exemplify the program in terms of their work ethic. The recruiting is going very well; Ithaca one of the great places to recruit to. When we bring young men to this campus, it's a pretty easy sell. For all the Ivy League programs, it’s become very difficult to recruit so early, that's been a challenge, but maybe it’s also been a good thing.

Cornell is the only DI program I’m aware of that has a screen door on the coaches’ office. Any updates on the screen door?We just fixed a hole in the screen door a few weeks ago. That got a little beat up this spring with a lot of guys coming in and out — we like to have our team around — but it’s still here and will stay here.